Judge Warns Damon Dash Could Face Prison Over Court Noncompliance

Music mogul Damon Dash is facing the threat of jail time after repeatedly defying court orders in an ongoing legal battle tied to the 2019 film Dear Frank.

A federal judge has issued a stern warning to the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder and his company, Poppington LLC, demanding they comply with court-mandated discovery orders by May 9. Failure to do so could result in Dash being held in contempt, a bench warrant issued for his arrest, and possible incarceration.

The escalation comes after months of growing frustration from the court over Dash’s refusal to cooperate in a lawsuit brought against him by filmmaker Josh Webber, according to AllHipHop.

The legal drama dates back to Dash’s early involvement in Dear Frank, a film project from which he was later removed over alleged unprofessional conduct. Despite being ousted, Dash continued to promote the movie as his own, prompting Webber and his production team to sue.

Dash ultimately lost the case and was ordered to pay damages. But rather than putting the matter to rest, his continued noncompliance with court orders has only deepened his legal troubles.

Adding to the mounting issues, Dash’s attorneys recently filed a motion to withdraw from representing him, citing their inability to convince him to follow court directives.

One major point of contention is Dash’s refusal to turn over records detailing his assets, a requirement under the judgment. Dash reportedly told his lawyers that disclosing his financials would be “futile” and suggested they should instead “wait for the bankruptcy process” to sort matters out.

Once celebrated as a visionary entrepreneur behind one of hip-hop’s most influential labels, Dash’s current legal woes cast a long shadow over his past achievements.

With the court’s patience running out and the May 9 deadline looming, Dash now faces the very real possibility of being arrested and jailed for contempt if he fails to comply.

For an executive who once helped redefine music and fashion culture, the stakes have never been higher.